Page 112 of Thorns of Love

I had found my happily-ever-after. It’d be with him.

* * *

My brothers could be so overbearing.

It had been three weeks since Adrian held the gun to my head. Three days since I’d been released from the hospital but my brothers refused to leave. Considering their wives and children were still in the States, it was downright odd. It showed how much Adrian’s betrayal had shaken them.

Vasili kept muttering it was his fault. I assured him it wasn’t. Truthfully, if they all didn’t leave soon, I’d end up guilty of murdering them.

I sighed, looking at them all sitting around my living room in a semi-loving, semi-murderous way.

The fire in the fireplace kept crackling. Christmas was only three weeks away. Alexei leaned against the wall by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his arms folded and his gaze traveling outside every so often. Sasha sat on the sofa chair, while Vasili and I sat on the couch.

My legs were folded, as I watched my family and thought about Illias.

I knew everyone was eager to get back home and get ready for the holidays. Especially with all my nieces and nephews. I had been utilizing my ‘Buy Now’ button like it was going out of style. I wasn’t sure whether Amazon was a Godsend or a curse.

“Let’s put it behind us and y’all go back to your wives,” I suggested hopefully. Branka was here with Sasha, but Aurora and Isabella were still back in the states. It was unheard of for my brothers to be away for that long. “I need rest and lots of food to feed my own babies. You guys are not helping. Every time I turn around, all my ice cream is gone.”

Vasili stifled his grin. “That might be Branka’s doing. She’s crazy about ice cream. Go figure.”

Sasha’s gaze turned murderous at the mention of my babies. He really couldn’t handle the idea that I’d been having sex. Somehow with Adrian it never registered, not that I had much sex with him but now that I had two little buns in the oven, so to speak, my brothers couldn’t pretend to be oblivious.

“Your husband is lucky you ordered me not to kill him,” Sasha grumbled. “Knocking up my sister. How dare he touch you?”

I rolled my eyes. “How dare you touch your wife?” I retorted wryly.

“That’s different,” he mumbled under his breath.

“I’m sure Alessio wouldn’t agree,” I snapped, a bit cranky. God, they really had to go back home. “But if it makes you feel better, feel free to think of the holy spirit filling me with twins. Whatever works for you.”

“Let her be, Sasha,” Alexei came to the rescue. “She’s still recovering.”

I shook my head. “I’m not. I’m all good. Honestly, y’all can go home.” I picked up my cell phone. “See this device?” I waved it in the air. “It means we can facetime and talk every day. Via this magical device called acell phone,” accentuating the last two words like I was trying to teach them a new language. The fact that I managed to keep my eyes from rolling was a miracle.

Sasha feigned hurt feelings. Even went as far as his lip trembling, but the twinkle in his eyes ruined it all. “I feel unwanted.”

Branka strode into the room at that moment and I jumped at the opportunity. “Branka, guess what? Sasha was just saying how he might surprise you and take you to visit your brother.” Alessio, her brother, lived in Toronto. They were on slightly better terms.I think.“Since Canada’s practically our neighbor.”

She snorted but the moment our eyes met, she got the message. “I think that’s a great idea,” she agreed. “I want to see my nephew. I heard Aurora has been trying to take over my ‘best aunt’ status.”

Alexei’s eyebrow shot up. “Trying? It’s already done. She got the boy a drone.”

“What?” Branka squealed, her eyes darting between her husband and Alexei. “Why am I only now finding this out? Goddamn it. What is better than a drone?”

I grinned. “Get him a helicopter or an airplane. You’ll totally win.”

“A real one?” she gasped.

“Or one of those remote control ones,” I suggested. “With the camera installed in it. They’re better than drones.”

“Aha,” she exclaimed. “Sasha, pack it up. We’re going to be there at the same time as the plane. I want to see his face when he gets it and then we’ll facetime Aurora.”

Her grin and smug expression matched my brother’s. No wonder the two got along.

“Shouldn’t we get him that for Christmas?” Sasha questioned, reluctantly getting to his feet.

She snickered. “Are you kidding me?” Her hand waved at Alexei, then back to Sasha. “He’ll tell Aurora. He’s her husband and she’s got him wrapped around her little finger.”